"Defective BB Gun in Secondhand Deal"... Man in His 20s Attacks Seller with Brass Knuckles, Receives Suspended Sentence

Seoul Eastern District Court Finds Defendant Guilty of Aggravated Assault

A man in his 20s who attacked a seller with brass knuckles after discovering a defect in a BB gun he purchased through a secondhand trading site has been sentenced to a suspended prison term.

According to the legal community on October 12, Lee Hodong, a judge at the Seoul Eastern District Court Criminal Division 3, sentenced a 20-year-old man, identified as A, to one year in prison with a three-year suspension of execution on September 24. He was charged with aggravated assault, possession of a weapon in a public place, and property damage.

Last June, A purchased a BB gun from the victim through the secondhand trading site 'Bungaejangter.' It was reported that he had an argument with the seller online due to the product's defect.

Subsequently, on May 5 of this year, A met the victim in person at Olympic Park in Songpa-gu, Seoul, bringing four weapons and one brass knuckle. He attacked the victim's collarbone and back area with his hand wearing the knuckle.

He was also brought to trial on charges of deflating the tire of the bicycle the victim had ridden, threatening people around the park with the weapons he had prepared, and then rushing toward the victim as if to attack.

Judge Lee stated, "The nature of the crime is very serious as it caused anxiety not only to the victim but also to people present at the location." However, he explained the sentencing by adding, "Consideration was given to the fact that an agreement was reached with the victim, as well as the defendant's age, character, and usual conduct."